Food: The Year the Bees Got Grounded

The price of canned fruit is going up in
supermarkets throughout the U.S. Reason: California, which produces 40%
of the U.S.'s fruit, had a wet, cold, late spring that has resulted in
a disastrous autumn.

Heavy spring rains affected fruit formation, hailstorms bruised fruit
that had formed, and cold weather grounded the bees that must pollinate
some fruits. Explains University of California Pomologist James A.
Beutel: "Spring temperatures remained below 60°, which is too cold for
good cross-pollination. Bees won't fly unless the temperature is above
60°."